Ditch cleaning and terracing machine



Jan. 27, 1942. c, v, STEWART DITCH CLEANING AND TERRACING MACHINE FiledSept. 16, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet l KIB'IQVENTOR BYrg/ 4 7 ATTORNEY Jan. 27,1942.,

c. v. STEWART 2,271,105

DITCH CLEANING AND TERRACING MACHINE Filed Sept. 16, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Jan. 27, 1942. v A c. v. STEWART 2,271,105

DITCH CLEANING AND TERRACING MACHINE Filed Sept. 16, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheebs INVENTOR m x M M 97M ATTORNEY I Jan. 27, 1942. c. v. STEWART 2,271,105

DITC H CLEANING AND TERRACING MACHINE Filed Sept. 16, 1940 -5Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR m KM BY 12% 2M ATTORN EY Jan. 27, 1942. c. v.STEWART 2,271,105

DITCH CLEANING AND TERRACING MACHINE Filed Sept. 16, 1940 S SheetS-Sheet5 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 27, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEBITCH CLEANING AND TERRACING MACHINE Charles V. Stewart, MaricopaCounty, Ariz. Applicationseptember 16, 1940, Serial No. 356,895

Claims. (01. 37455) This invention relates to a ditch cleaning andterracing machine of the type attached and drawn behind a tractor orother source of locomotion, and'has for its objects,

First, to provide a machine which has two adjustable cutting'bladespositioned on a frame so that their angle of attack may be easily variedto accomplish the results desired;

Second, to provide such a device having frame supporting wheels attachedand positioned so that it will not be easily upset or tipped over eitherwhen in use or when being drawn into. or pulled out of ditches;

The third object is to provide such a machine wherein the means ofsupport may be easily adjusted from a conveniently positioned operator'splatform; said adjustment being such that the entire body of the machinemay be tilted from a transverse horizontal position to an angularposition, so that a ditch having an angular bottom or a V-ditch may bedug or cleaned;

A fourth object is to provide stabilizing means for the body of thedevice when operatedin said tilted position;

A fifth object is to provide a side cuttingblade supported so that 'itmay be adjusted as to angle and cut to meet the varying conditions ofthe side ofa ditch to be cleaned, so as to effectively clean weeds andthe like from the ditch side, although the same may have a variableangle and Width;

A sixth object is to provide, in addition to the main adjustablesupporting or riding wheels, a pair of resiliently supported stabilizingwheels to maintain the lateral stability of the body;

A seventh object is to provide means of support of the front portion ofthe body of the device so that it may be adjusted to control the depthof cut of the blades, together witha construction which will maintainlateral stability of the front end of the device and permit the greatestlatitude of adjustment of the angle of tractive effort, including a drawbar which'may be swung both vertically and horizontally on showing itsmeans of support;-

variable Figure 4 is a fragmentary viewof the lower portion of sideblade drawn on a somewhat enlarged scale showing'detailed means ofsupport;

Figure 5 isa side elevational view of the adjustable stinger wheel usedto maintain lateral stabilityparticularly when theimachine is tilted tothe right, as in'cutting a V ditch;

Figure 6 is a side elevationalview of one of the adjustable rear supportor riding wheels;

Figure 7 is an end elevation thereof;

Figure 8 is an end elevation of one of the resilient stabilizing wheels;I

Figures is a front cross sectional elevation of 'a portion'of the fronttruck showing the rocking bolster and its construction;

Figure 10 is an outside elevational view of the manual control of theside blade.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary plan view showing details of the pin and holelatch structure controlling the position of the bottoming blade frame;

Figure 12 is a front elevational view thereof;

Figure 13 is a fragmentary plan view showing particularly the "bracketssupporting the stinger wheel and its adjustable support; and

Figure 14 is a' fragmentary longitudinal sectional elevation of thefront end of theframe showing particularly details for raising the framefrom the front truck. a

Similar numerals refer to similar parts in the several views.

The main frame 2 of my machine is preferably of channel or H steel, madeina V shape with the point of the V at theforward end. The two sidemembers, 3 and 4, of the frame are joined at the front end bya web block5, and at the rear by cross members 6 and l and'by an X brace 8 atapproximately their middle. The rear of each of these side members isbent downward, and at the endsthere are knuckle joints 9 affordingsupport for the forks ID of the rear supporting and riding wheels ll.The front of the machine is supported on a two wheeled truck I 2 havinga fifth wheel I3 of the turntable type surmounted by a rocking bolsterM. This is, in turn, connected to the frame by two upright supportingrods 15 extending vertically through the front frame web. These upright"rods are joined at the top by a cross-bar or yoke Hi, to which they arewelded. Yoke 'bar 16' is provided with bearing lugs .16!) welded 'toabout the middle of its top face (see Figure '14) Alongitudinallyextending hand lever I1 is pivoted in the prow l8 whichextends upward from the .front end of the frame. This lever is providedwith a hand latch operating with a ratchet 9. A link 20 is connected tothe yoke IS. A link 20 operatively joining the hand lever l1 and theyoke bar I6 is connected at the top to the hand lever by a cross pinbearing and to the yoke l6 at its bottom by the bearing bolt IB I. Bythis arrangement the front end of the frame may be raised or loweredrelative to the front truck. The forks ID of the riding wheels are eachindividually adjustable by means of hand levers 22 pivotally mounted onthe rear end of the frame pieces at 25 and connected by links 26 to lugs21 on the forks I0. Levers 22 are provided with hand latches 28 whichoperate on toothed latch segments 29 so that the forks supporting thewheels may be maintained in any desired angle relative to the knucklejoint 9. This provides a means for adjusting the height of the rear ofthe fram from the ground. Since each riding wheel is made independentlyadjustable, the transverse plane of the rear portion of the frame may bevaried relative to the level of the ground on which the riding wheelsrest.

As viewed assembled, this device consists of the frame and itssupporting members, above described, on which are carried two blades.One of these blades is termed the bottoming blade, indicated by numeral30. This is supported about two-thirds of the length of the frame fromits front, on a pivotally mounted blade holder, generally indicated bynumeral 3|. The other is a side cutting blade 32 extending from theright hand side of the frame. Its lower end is supported in a ball andsocket joint 33 attached to the lower tip of a downwardly curved hornsupport 34. The rear portion of this blade is supported vertically by aball and socket joint 35 at the lower end of an adjustable double piecelink 36, which is, in turn, connected by a ball and socket joint 31 to acrank 38, operative on a sector gear 39 contained within a housing andmounting 4|] and driven by a worm 4| on a shaft operated by a hand wheel42.

In approximately the middle of blade 32 an adjustable two piececompression link 43 is attached to the blade by means of a clevis 44 andto 3 the cross piece I.

the side member 4 of the frame by eye link 45.

Th vertical or cutting position of the blade is maintained by an eyebolt engaging a rod 41 on the upper edge of the blade attached to a lug48 on the inner edge of the downwardly extending portion of the hornsupport 34. This horn support is attached to the right hand frame member4 by a pivot bolt 5|) at its front end, and a buckhead 5|, having anumber of arcuately positioned attachment holes 52 to receive attachmentbolt 53 and provide for vertical adjustment-of horn 34 relative to theframe. The horn support 34 is bent downward and outward from buckhead 5|to the point of attachment of the front end of the blade, as abovedescribed.

Above the rear portion of the frame, a control platform and frame 6|] iserected on vertical supports 6|. The lower ends of these supports areattached to the rear of the frame members 3 and 4. At the right end ofthis platform frame the housing 40 which contains the worm and sectorgears 4| and 39, is mounted. This housing is provided with suitablebraces to render it rigid. It will be noted that frame is erected abovethe main frame 2 so'that the control of the rearend of blade 32 is abovethe point of control, i. e. the ball and socket joint 35. To the rear ofthis frame. two braces 63 extend diagonallyrearward to afford supportfor the riding platform 64, which extends horizontally outward from therear end of the frame. it will be noted that the riding wheel controllevers 22 are within easy reach of an operator standing on thisplatform, also that the hand wheel 42 is likewise conveniently disposed.Further, the front elevating lever I1 is immediately in front of thisplatform.

Attached beneath the rear downward bend of the frame members 3 and 4 andat each side of the body of the frame are sleeves B8, the axis'of whichis transverse relative to frame 2. These sleeves are welded to the framemembers and to the cross member 6 and to a vertically extending supportmember 69 which affords endsupport for These sleeves journal shafts Ill,the outer ends of which are turned downward forming knees At the lowerends of these knees, stabilizing wheels 12 are supported on outwardlyextending axles l3. Extending above each shaft 10 and near the outerends there are cranks 14. To these cranks the forward end of long,coiledsprings 15 are attached by links 16. The rear ends of thesesprings are attached to a cross member ,1! attached to the rear of theplatform 64. The tension of these springs maintains the knees II in asubstantially vertical position. Ordinarily this tension is such thatthe knees extend only slightly to the rear of a vertitical position.

At the upper ends of levers I4, chains 18 are attached and joined at aconvenient point on the frame. These chains limit the pull of springs 15and prevent them from pulling theknees beyond a vertical position.

In Figure 8, it will be noted that the stabilizing wheels extendlaterally beyond the riding of the ditch being cleaned.

Referring'now to the bottoming blade 3|l, it will be noted that thelower or compression member 19 of theblade support3| is pivoted at I84to a cross frame member 80. An upper frame support member 8| pivotallyslides freely on top of the main frame members 3 and 4. The angularposition, of this blade is adjustably maintained by a pin and holelatching mechanism. This consists of a vertically positioned pin 84supported in? a guide I; This pin is provided with a slotted hole |8|to'receive the forward end-of the handle bar 82, which fulcrums and issupported by bearing lug I82 on cross frame member 80 (see Figure 11).Pin 84 is normally urged'downward and toward engagement with any one ofa plurality of holes 83 in sector plate I83 formed on lower compressionmember 19 of the bottomingblade support 3|by a spring I surrounding it.When the rear end of handle bar 82 is depressed pin 84 is lifted clearof engagement with sector plate I83 and the member 19 is free to swinghorizontally on its bearingbolt I84.

Referring to the front truck |2, it will be noted that the two wheels 85are supported on individual'axles fastened to' a yoke shaped framework86 which is, in turn, hingedly connected by knuckle joints 8! to theturn table type fifth wheel I 3 (see Figure 9). The stationary portionof this fifth wheel-indicated by 89, is made in the shape of a panhaving comparatively steep sides,

the forward and rear ends of the shaft 90 of the rocking bolster I4 arefitted into bearings in the front and. rear sides of this pan shapedbody. The draw bar 9I is pivotally attached to a cross member 92extending between the sides of the yoke 86. The forward portion of thisyoke is provided with a plurality of holes 93 through which a pin 94 maybe dropped to engage the draw bar 9I in any desired draft angle.

In use it is often desirable to tilt the entire framework of the machinesomewhat sharply to the right. In order to afford additional supquireddistance and welded to a housing I02, in which there are three parallelsubstantially vertically extending holes. The outer holes afford asliding support for bars I03 and I04 which slide freely therein.

The lower end of these bars is attached to a block I05 in which thestinger wheel axle I06 is set. The center hole accommodates a long screwI08 to which a hand wheel I09 is attached at the top and a followerblock II at the bottom. A threaded boxing III is attached to the housingI02 to accommodate the threads on the rod I08. When hand wheel I09 isrotated therefore, the wheel supporting block I is raised or lowered.Hand wheel I59 is conveniently positioned relative to the platform 04 atthe right hand side of the body and just below the side blade operatinghand wheel 42. Since the right hand stabilizing wheel 12 may carry moreload than the left hand stabilizing wheel, a second spring I IImay beattached parallel to the right hand stabilizing wheel spring 15. Theleft end of this spring is shown broken away in Figure 2 so as not toobscure parts beneath it.

In operation the draw bar 9| is attached to a convenient tractive meanssuch as a caterpillar or wheel tractor and conveyed to the work with thesupporting wheels in extended downward position as indicated in Figure1, and the front end of the frame raised as shown in this figure. Wherethe Work desired'is cleaning a flat bottomed ditch-with slanting sides,the machine is set up as illustrated in both Figures 1 and 2. Preferablythe tractor should be of a size that will run in the bottom of theditch, although the adjustability of the draw bar as to the front truckwill accommodate a tractor running on the side of the ditch. The frontend of the frame is lowered by raising lever I'I until the bottomingblade 30 engages soil to the proper depth of cut desired in the bottomof the ditch. Riding wheels I I are adjusted accordingly and individualadjustments are made to accommodate any slant in the ditch bottom. Sideblade 32 is adjusted so that its forward edge or cutting point I20 isapproximately even with the bottom or cutting edge of the bottomingblade 30. It is then positioned so that it has an outward and upwardangle. This angle is adjusted for the particular may be lowered when theangle drops off or when the ditch widens slightly. Since in cleaningditches it is necessary that this blade follow the contour of the ditchside in order to clean and cut out grass roots, weeds, and otherundesirable vegetation, it is necessary asthe machine is drawn forwardto make this side blade follow the contour of the face of the ditch sideby a manipulation of this wheel 42. Of course, if a ditch is ideallyconstructed and the. side being cleaned is smooth and of uniform angle,this would not be necessary. In practice, however, the contrary is true.After the machine has been drawn through the ditch in one direction andhas cleaned the bottom and one side, it will be noted that the bottomingblade has forced soil and substances encountered in the bottom of theditch to the left. The machine is then turned around and drawn throughthe ditch in the opposite direction and the side blade engages the ridgeof soil previously left by the bottoming blade on the left hand side ofthe ditch during the first operation. In this manner, flat bottomditches are efficiently cleaned.

Wherethe machine is used to clean V shaped ditches, then the right handriding wheel is moved to its lowered position and the'left hand modatethis type of work, if necessary, by changing the supporting bolts in thebuckhead 5| and also by changing the main angle of the blade byadjustment of the double piece compression link 43.

In the same manner as last described V ditches may be dug in level soil.Where the device is used for terracing and contouring, then the sideblade 32 may be dispensed with and only the bottoming blade used.However, even job usually by the compression bar 43. Manipulation of thehand wheel 42, however, will raise and lower the vertical position ofthis blade as it turns on its forward ball and socket support I in thisoperation the side blade may be used to even the inner cut on the highside of the terrace level and may be adjusted accordingly.

In all operations, the stabilizing wheels. 7.2 afford a resilient meansof support for the frame and body structure of the entire machine andprevent accidental upset. Added to this novel feature is the fact that Ihave provided a twowheel fronttruck. Ordinarily this truck runs in thebottom of the ditch being cleaned,,and tilts sideways according to itslateral slant. In mov- 'ing the machine into and out of ditches, I havefound that it is necessary to permit the front sets and provides aflexible means for supporting the front end of the device. When theframe is in fully lowered position then a cross bar H8 attached to thefront end of the frame rests on each side of the rocking bolster pan 89and in this position the frame is urged to followthe lateral slant ofthe truck. This is necessary for properly following the lateral slantvariance in the bottom of any ditch being cleaned.

I claim:

1. A combination ditch cleaning and terracing machine, comprising, incombination, frame vary the height of the frame from the ground on whichsaid riding wheel rests, and lateral stabilizing means includingresiliently supported stabilizing wheels extending laterally on eachside of said frame and bearingon the ground at lateral positions beyondthe track of said riding wheels.

2. The combination ditch cleaning and terracing machine including incombination, a frame having a centrally positioned pivotally mountedbottoming blade mounted thereon, a side cutting blade adjustably mountedon one side thereof, said adjustable mounting including an adjustablypositioned ball and socket joint attached to the forward end of saidblade and a variable rear mounting having means for manual adjustment ofthe vertical angle of said blade, a wheeled support for said frameincluding a draw truck at the forward end provided with an adjustabledraw bar, a fifth wheel, a rocking bolster and means of attachment tothe forward end of said frame whereby the height thereof may be manuallyadjusted relative to said draw truck, and riding Wheels hingedly mountedon the rear of said frame, each individually manually adjustable to varythe height of the frame relative to the ground on which said wheelrests, and lateral stabilizing means including stabilizing wheelsresiliently supported on shafts extending transversely of said framewhereby said wheels engage the earth to track beyond the tracks of eachof said riding wheels.

3. A ditch cleaning machine including in combination, a frame having ageneral triangular shape with an operators platform attached at the rearthereof, a bottoming blade pivotally mounted at approximately the centerthereof and means for latching said blade in any desired pivotalposition, a side cutting blade rigidly and adjustably mounted at theforward end thereof to one side of said frame, means for supporting therear end thereof manually adjustable so that the horizontal angle ofsaid side cutting blade may be manually adjusted, together with anadjustable compression link extending from approximately the center ofsaid blade to the side .of said frame, together with wheel means forsupporting said frame including a two wheel draw truck at the forwardend provided with a draw bar having means for horizontal and verticaladjustment, a fifth wheel and a rocking bolster rests, stabilizing meansincluding resiliently supported stabilizing wheels positioned to tracklaterally beyond the track of said riding wheels and an auxiliarysupporting wheel adj ustably mounted on the side of the frame whichsupports the side cutting blade. I

4. A ditch cleaning machine, including, in combination, a triangularshaped frame having two side members joined by a web at their forwardend and bent downwardly at their rear ends terminating in knucklejoints, riding wheels supported in forks attached to said knucklejoints, levers attached to said frame and connected to said forks,having latching means whereby said riding wheels may be independentlyraised or lowered relative to their point of attachment on said frame,an operators riding platform attached to and extending from the rear ofsaid frame between said riding wheel adjusting levers, a platformattached to and extending upward from the rear of said frame, a sidecutting blade attached. to one side ofsaid frame and being rigidly andadjustably mounted at its forward end by a downwardly extending hornhaving a socket joint at its lower end to receive a ball support on theforward end of said blade, and a buckhead at substantially its middle toprovide vertical adjustment of said horn relative to said frame, anadjustable compression link extending outward from said frame toapproximately the middle of said blade, and means for adjustablysupporting the rear portion of said blade including a ball and socketjoint on the rear portion thereof connecting to an adjustable linksupported on a crank operated through intermediate gearing by a handwheel supported on said vertical platform above said frame, an auxiliaryriding wheel positioned between said side cutting blade and the frameadjacent thereto, including a stinger wheel rigidly mounted on asubstantially vertically adjustable block, the vertical position thereofbeing controlled by a hand wheel positioned within easy reach of anoperator on said riding platform, and a support for the forward end ofsaid frame including a truck having a vertically and horizontallyadjustable draw bar and means for attachment of said truck to theforward end of said frame, including a fifth wheel, a rocking bolsterand upwardly extending rods joined by ayoke connected by a link to alever positioned on the forward end of said frame whereby said frame maybe raised and lowered relative to said truck and stabilizing wheelsmounted on knees extending downwardly from lateral shafts turning insleeves mounted on each side of said frame, said shafts having upwardlyextending levers with long springs attached thereto and to the rear endof said riding platform whereby said knees are normally urged downward,chains forming a limiting means to prevent said knees from moving beyonda predetermined vertical position, said shaft supporting said knees,being proportioned so that said stabilizing wheels extend beyond thetracks of said riding wheels.

5. In a machine for cleaning ditches having a frame including sidemembers, a side blade supporting means including, in combination, afront support having a bar parallel to said frame at its forward end anda downwardly extending horn at its rearward end, a pivotal boltextending through the forward end of said bar in said frame and abuckhead formed on the rear portion of said bar provided with aplurality of holes to permit vertical adjustment of the tip of said hornsupport relative to said frame member, a ball and socket joint joiningthe forward end of said blade with the tip of said horn support, an eyebolt extending between the upper edge of said blade and a lug positionedon said horn above the tip thereof to maintain said blade in cuttingposition, lateral supporting means for said blade including anadjustable link extending from a clevis on said blade to an eye link onsaid frame,

and means for adjustably supporting the rear end of said blade includingan adjustable link connected to the rear end of said blade by a ball andsocket joint at its lower end and to a crank at its 1 CHARLES V.STEWART.

